Box-fastener



m5 Model.)

L. A. GENTLIVRE.

BOX FASTENER.

N, PETERS. Pholo-Lithognphen Wmhingmm lzc UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE.

LOUIS A. OENTLIVRE, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

BOX-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,786, dated August 16, 1881.

Application filed June 7, 1881.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs A. OENTLIVRE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Boxes for Shipping Bottled Beer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of shipping cases or boxes in which a detachable lid is locked down upon the case or box by means of a concealed spring catch or fastening that is operated to release the lid through the medium of a pencil, stick, or other suitable instrument passed through an opening in oneot the sides of the box, so as to actuate the fastening for the purpose aforesaid.

My improved box is designed especially for shipping bottled beer. It is Well known that boxes constructed for such purpose should be adapted to be securely closed, in order to prevent either the accidental detachment of the lid or the tampering with their contents during transportation, and also that they should be made strong and cheap. These requisites I have attained by my invention, the object of which may be stated to be to provide a novel combination of concealed fastenin gs for looking down the lid in a ready and effective manner, to prevent by means of such fastenings the slipping or accidental detachment of the lid, and to so construct the box withreference to such fastenings that it will be strengthened at thejoints, and at the same time be made in a cheap and simple manner.

To such ends my invention consists in the construction and combination of the box and fastenings, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the shippin g-box with the lid detached and elevated above the box, the under side of the lid being shown in this figure. Fig. 2 is a transverse central section taken on a vertical plane through the shipping-box and lid.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A indicates the body of the shipping-box, which can be provided with handles for lifting the same, or with openings at at its ends, which will subserve the same purpose.

B indicates the cover, which is of less width 'pense with dovetail joints.

(No model.)

box at the front and back sides thereof, the

ends of the cover in such case resting upon the top edges of the ends of the box or shipping-case. The coveris held and locked down upon the box by means of two cleats, D D, secured to the under side of the cover, and a sliding bolt, E, the ends of the cleats projecting out from one side of the cover, so as to pass under the strip at the rear, and the bolt projecting from the opposite side of the cover, so as to pass under the top strip at the front side of the box. These top strips, which I will designate as the front and rear top strips, not only serve to engage the fastenings, which will be concealed after the lid has been locked down, but also greatly strengthen the box by holding the sides to the ends, and thereby dis- They also serve to protect the front and rear edges of the cover from shocks during transportation, thereby avoiding accidental displacement thereof or weakening of the bolt. Lateral displacement or endwise slipping of the cover will be prevented by the cleats D, which are secured to the cover near its ends,so as to fit against the inner walls of the ends of the box when the cover is fitted down in place, said cleats being parallel with the spring-bolt, as illustrated. The bolt is normally thrown forward by a spring, 6, arranged within a channel in the bolt, one end of said spring bearing against a shoulder at one end of the channel, and the remaining end of the spring bearing against a stud or projection on the cover. A coiled or rubber spring can be employed, and the bolt can be sustained under the cover by straps or a sheath, or in any other suitable way.

The opening F, made through the front side of the shipping-case, admits of the insertion of a pen, pencil, stick, or other suitable instrument, whereby the bolt can be pushed back from under the front top strip to admit of the lid being raised.

Gr indicates a block or stop arranged centrally under the'rear top strip. Since the bolt, as before stated, normally projects from the side of the lid, the packer might by accident IOC the projecting bolt and cleats would come under the wrong top strips; but in such event the stop G pushes back the bolt, and hence the lid cannot be locked excepting that it is placed upon the case with the nose of the bolt toward the side of the case through which the hole for inserting an unlocking device is made. The nose of the bolt can be beveled and arranged so that after inserting the projecting ends of the cleats under the rear top strip the lid can be pressed down, and the beveled face striking against the front top strip, the bolt will be automatically forced back and so held until the cover is fitted down, after which it will spring forward under said top strip.

Prior to my invention a box-cover has been provided with cleats upon its under side, one of said cleats having secured thereto a metal tongue, which enters a recess in the wall of the box, the remaining eleat being provided with the sliding spring-bolt. It will be obvious, however, that by extending the cleats under the rear top strip, as in the present case, the lid will be more firmly secured, and that the construction will be cheaper and simpler. In another instance a box-lid has been held at one side by a top strip on the box, having a beveled edge, to which the beveled edge of the cover is fitted, the said cover being provided with a hasp, with which aspring-la-tch en gages. The difl'erence between this and my improved box will, however, be apparent. I do not trust to the beveled edges, as in said patent, but adopt a more secure way of securin g the cover to the strip. Said box, moreover, has but one strip, and the fastening is entirely different from mine.

What I claim is- The combination, with a shipping-case in which a detachable lid is locked by means of concealed fastenings andunloeked by passing an instrument through an opening in the case against a bolt carried by the lid, of the top, front, and rear strips secured upon the box,

7 the lid adapted to fit between said top strips,

the cleats extending from one side of the lid, so as to fit under one of the top strips, the spring-bolt normally projecting from the oppo site side of the lid, so as to engage under the remaining top strip, and a stop arranged un-- der the rear top strip in position to push back the bolt and prevent the locking down of the lid in case of the application of the same with the bolt-to the rear instead of to the front of the case, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS A. OENTLIVRE.

WVitnesses:

JOHN B. REUss, GEORGE SMENNER. 

